Sometimes we want to add light to this world in the most literal sense — and that’s exactly why light art festivals were created. In the City World overview, here are the top five light art festivals globally.
Fête des Lumières, Lyon
The history of this festival of light began long before the advent of high technologies — in the 17th century, after a severe outbreak of the plague. When the plague subsided, the Lyon City Council decided that the city had been saved by the intercession of the Virgin Mary. On December 8, during the Catholic feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, a new tradition was established: every year, in gratitude, people would place candles in their windows, and later, lanterns and lamps. In 1852, a statue of the Virgin Mary was erected on the city’s high hill of Fourvière, and fireworks and other bursts of light accompanied its inauguration. One could say that this was the precursor to the modern festival, which has been held since 1999. Since then, Lyon has excelled in the art of urban lighting; in 2002, at the city’s initiative, an international organization called LUCI was established, specializing in the lighting of urban spaces and facades.
The Fête des Lumières program always impresses with its variety and takes place at the city’s most iconic locations — last year, for example, there were 23 venues. From December 5 to 8, bright light installations and multimedia performances can be seen on the facades of Lyon Cathedral, the Saint-Paul station, the Théâtre des Célestins, in the Parc de la Tête d’Or, in all the main squares of the city, and, of course, on the hill of Fourvière.
Light Up Macao, Macao
The Light Up Macao Festival was first held in 2015, and since then, the event has enjoyed great success every year. The program features interactive lighting of the facades of iconic buildings, innovative light installations and projections, some of which are created using artificial intelligence, as well as video and animation demonstrations on the facades. Additionally, during the festival, a special gaming app is available: let’s not forget that Macau is a major gaming hub.
The festival, which will run for nearly three months from December 15, 2024, to February 25, 2025, will take place in Macau’s historic center, on Praia do Manduco Street, in the Coloane district, along the Nam Van Lake promenade, at Bombeiros Square, on the facade of St. Francis Xavier Church, on Taipa Island, and other popular tourist spots. A distinctive feature of the festival is the numerous night markets, where visitors can sample a variety of local and European delicacies.
Vivid Sydney, Sydney
If you don’t get the chance to enjoy the lights of Lyon and Macau, don’t miss Sydney, though it takes place in May. During the festival, whose name speaks for itself, Australia’s second-largest city shines with vibrant colors for 23 evenings, becoming a true multimedia museum under the open sky, pierced by hundreds of colorful beams. From May 23 to June 14, around a hundred light installations and projections will be set up at all of the city’s iconic locations. The centerpiece of the event is the Harbour Bridge and the famous Sydney Opera House, where light shows can be viewed from the water by purchasing a ticket for a mini-cruise in the bay. The parallel program will feature a variety of musical performances and concerts.
Since its inception in 2009, the Vivid Sydney Festival has been recognized six times as Australia’s best tourism event of the year and twice as the country’s best cultural event.
i Light Singapore, Singapore
Singapore is a high-tech city, and it knows how to impress with light: at least two unique light shows — the Supertree Grove in Gardens by the Bay and the Spectra show at Marina Bay — take place daily year-round. However, Singaporeans never rest on their laurels, and in 2010, they established the light festival i Light Singapore. The annual event takes place at Marina Bay against the backdrop of the futuristic Marina Bay Sands hotel. Since its inception, the festival has become not only one of the most vibrant light shows in the world but also one of the most environmentally friendly among similar events. All the light installations featured in the festival are made from energy-efficient and renewable materials. Preparations for the 2025 festival, which will take place from May 30 to June 22, are already in full swing.
Light Nights, Gatchina
Festival of Light and Media Art “Light Nights” took place at the Gatchina Museum-Reserve this summer for the sixth time, gathering over fifty participants from five countries and attracting 15,000 spectators. Light and immersive installations stretched over 5 km across the palace park, centered around the theme “About Humanity,” while the nearby White Lake added an air of mystique to the event. Lighting design studios came together for a unified creative project called Light Together, showcasing bold artistic solutions along the park’s pathways. The creators combined digital and analog works, nature and architecture, with virtual reality and neural networks. As soon as the last lights of the festival dimmed, work began on the new program, ensuring that the organizers will have plenty to pleasantly surprise the audience with in August 2025.
Photo: shutterstock.com, macaubusiness.com, Press Office, Polina Nazarovа/Press Office
